Could donor milk save tiny babies from deadly gut disease?
NCT ID NCT07045844
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This large trial studies over 2,300 very preterm infants (born before 29 weeks) to see whether supplementing mother's milk with pasteurized donor milk or preterm formula improves survival without severe necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a dangerous gut condition. It also tests whether routine use of human milk fortifiers is better than using them only when growth slows. Infants are randomly assigned to feeding groups, and their development is checked at age 2.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- pasteurized donor human milk and preterm formula
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could identify the best feeding strategy to help very preterm infants survive without severe gut complications and support better brain development.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early-stage trial with no results yet. The benefits may be small or not apply to all infants, and feeding interventions carry risks like infection or intolerance.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine
Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 0571, China
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Ganzhou Maternal and Child Health Hospital
Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
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Hangzhou Women's Hospital
Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310008, China
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Jiaxing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital
Jiaxing, Zhejiang, 314000, China
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Nanyang Central Hospital
Nanyang, Henan, 473000, China
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Ningbo Women and Children's Hospital (The Affiliated Women and Children's Hospital of Ningbo University)
Ningbo, Zhejiang, 315012, China
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Peking University First Hospital Ningxia Women and Children's Hospital (Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region Maternal and Child Health Hospital)
Yinchuan, Ningxia, China
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People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region
Ürümqi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China
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Shandong Provincial Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital
Jinan, Shandong, China
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Sichuan Provincial Maternal and Child Health Hospital
Chengdu, Sichuan, 610045, China
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Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine
Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310016, China
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The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University
Guizhou, Guiyang, 550001, China
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The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University
Luzhou, Sichuan, China
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The First Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University
Guilin, Guangxi, China
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The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University
Zhengzhou, Henan, China
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The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine
Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, China
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The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University
Nanning, Guangxi, 530007, China
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Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine
Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310006, China
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Yiwu Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital (Yiwu Branch of The Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine)
Yiwu, Zhejiang, 322000, China
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Yiyang Central Hospital
Yiyang, Hunan, China
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Yongkang Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital
Guli, Zhejiang, 321300, China
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Yulin Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Guangxi
Yulin, Guangxi, 537000, China
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